The chief and his gang worship power above all else, so they suggest that young men can learn to dominate others by imitating the fathers who dominate
them. They therefore suggest that while Noboru’s lack of a father gives him more freedom than other boys, it also deprives him of a key role model. Of course, this all raises serious questions about Noboru’s relationship with Ryuji, who is quickly turning from a role model into a father figure—or, if the chief is right, an intolerable oppressor.